Meet a Grad

Becky Floyd, M.A.

M.A., 2001
I came to the Anthropology Department at UM in the autumn of 1999 to study forensic anthropology. It was while I was a teaching assistant for Dr. John Douglas’ introductory archaeology class that I considered teaching college for the first time. After I graduated in 2001, I decided to give community college teaching a try back in my home state. I started teaching both biological and cultural anthropology courses that very same summer, and I became hooked on teaching. I spent the next four years as an adjunct at various institutions before landing the position I currently hold as chair of the Anthropology Department at Cypress College. I have grown and shaped our program over the last 10 years to become one of the most well-rounded four-field anthropology programs at a community college in the region. My decade of accomplishments were recognized when I received the Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award at our 2014 graduation ceremony, which was both a surprise and an incredible honor.

Gemma Heimlich-Bowler

Although I've only been away from UM for less than a semester, I've already had quite a few opportunities to use the knowledge I gained in the Anthropology Department! I'm spending this spring interning at the Forensic Investigation Research Station, Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO. This summer, I've been accepted to join CSU: Chico at their annual Betty's Hope Archeological/Bioarcheological Field School, and then I will be returning to Portland, OR where I have accepted an internship with the State Forensic Anthropologist for the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office who is also a UM Anthropology Alum!

Amanda O’Neil

B.A., 2014

In May of 2014, I received my BA in Anthropology from the University of Montana, where I pursued my interests with an emphasis in forensics and a certificate of forensic studies under Dr. Ashley McKeown. I am now pursuing my Master’s degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, in physical anthropology.

During summer of 2013 I attended the Slavia Field School in Mortuary Archaeology and Human Osteology. I received extensive training in bioarchaeology and participated in field excavations. I was also fortunate to be a research assistant of the physical anthropology lab in the UM Anthropology Department. After graduating I attended an Arizona State University field school in bioarchaeology and human osteology directed by Dr. Jane Buikstra in Kampsville, Illinois. Most recently, I was accepted for an internship with the Defense POW Accounting Agency (previously known as JPAC) at their Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii. I will be joining them in the summer of 2015.

I am so grateful for having been a part of the Anthropology Department, and I am thankful for the wonderful faculty for helping me grow and succeed as a scholar.